CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 100, 3 June 1914, Page 3

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.

A NEW INSTITUTION. Press Association. DUNEDIN, dune 2. The foundation stone of St. Margaret 's College was laid to-day by the Prime Minister. The building ' was really begun in March, and should be completed about October. Mr W. S. Fitzgerald (president of the College Council) said that the movement for the foundation of the college originated with the late Dr Nisbet (of First Church), and' the Dunedin Presbytery set up a committee. ; The Presbytery deserved the thanks of the public for establishing a first-class host-el, and from his experience as' rector of the .Training College and from what he had learned as- inspector of schools in visiting teachers, there was urgent need for .such an. institution. But this one went further. Girls coming for the first time to the Training College and University were, so far as character went," in a eritical position, and the Presbytery, for the sake of character .development, had founded St. Margaret's.' The College Council had faith in the liberality of the people of the Dominion, being convinced that when it was realised that the college was. capable of producing excellent results, the burden "of. debt would be gradually lightened. The section had cost £2OOO, and the building contract was for £3200. There has been an unexpected demand for £2OOO, and the council hoped that, in the hear future it would be enabled to meet it.

Mr Massey said that Otago had always beeu in the van in encouraging education, especially higher education. He mentioned the establishment of lona College, in Hawke's Bay, and expressed the hope that what Hawke's Bay had done, and Otago was doing, would be copied in other parts of New Zealand. Mr Massey- paid a compliment to the Presbyterian Church in Otago for the establishment of Kuox College and St. Margaret's. The Rev. A. Cameron stated that it was hoped by and by to provide college tutors as well as quarters. A collection made by the St. Margaret 's students realised £123.